In view of
the Phone and Cable Operator capture of the national agenda, I am exploring
ways to show local communities, policy makers and enterprises the value of the
Internet as locally owned and controlled infrastructure. My research focuses on
the collaborative and innovative use of the Internet for business and economic
development. I contrast to this the efforts of the Telcos and Cable Operators
to keep their customers narrowly confined through restrictive terms of use.
Broadband is not just faster web surfing. It is a critical enabler of business
activity through real time collaboration among geographically-dispersed
entrepreneurs.

In order to
understand why local control and independence is critical for the creation of
new economic activity one must understand what John Seely Brown and
John
Hagel mean by "value creation" and "talent
building" and what Jerry
Michalski refers to as the "relationship economy." Since
the duopoly has bought its way into power in Washington DC, I see the best
return on one's investment as education at the edges in our local communities.

The edges are
where the opportunity lies and where individuals are innovating and building
solutions that enable cost effective change and local control. I offer an
ongoing inventory of strategic leadership and tools for local change agents.
Valuable new tools include Michael Bookey's America at the
Internet Crossroads"; Tom Vest's US Netizen Networks, and CENIC's Open Community Camp.

I can be the scout you use
to identify edge-based opportunity. I am working to help decision makers
understand why local investment is necessary and then to find the best value
for the investment of their resources. I am available to speak at meetings and
work with new and existing groups to replace their MSO and Telco
infrastructure. On a selective consulting basis and for worthy topics I may
write whitepapers for clients.

��Gordon Cook

A
Conversation with Jerry Michalski

Editor___s Introduction: Jerry Michalski is one of the best known among the
global group of analysts and bloggers who are charting the leading-edge of the
impact of the cooperation and collaboration that the Internet has enabled for
global business. Organizations that desire to understand and take advantage of
the ways in which the Internet-enabled, open, real time, and remote
collaboration between widely separated teams of people can create more value
for the world in which they operate are those with which Jerry works.